Dr. Luna
The Fairy’s Forbidden Mate Chapter 91

Just before the sun began to rise Rhea opened her eyes to her dark room. She was surprised to see that she wasn't alone. Dex had remained with her all night and was gently snoring in the chair he had fallen asleep in. She sat up and smiled at him. It had to be incredibly uncomfortable, but he stayed to take care of her. She scooted to the edge of the bed and dangled her feet over the side. She slowly reached a finger out and pushed it into his arm. She watched his eyes immediately shoot open and then settle on her. "Thank you for staying with me."

"Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's morning." Rhea glanced her eyes over to the still dull sky outside.

Dex frowned and sighed. "I still wish I could come with you guys. I want to be there to help."

"Thank you Dex. Honestly, I wish I could bring you all with me too. But Titus is right, the whole royal family can't all disappear. And Titus will feel better knowing you are here to watch over Lila. Don't worry. Everything is going to be okay. I will be back." Rhea looked at his hazel eyes that were looking back at her with worry. "Thank you for befriending a non-dragon like me."

Dex laughed. "I'm not at all like you had pictured, am I?"

"Not at all like I had pictured. They had you painted like you were this mean grump who didn't like anyone. But that isn't true about you at all."

"It actually wasn't far off the mark. I usually don't get along with others. There are too many fake people who just want to be friends with the royals so they can use them. Your honesty was touching. You were so genuine from the moment I met you. I wanted that. I wanted to be close with that." Dex looked down at his hands. The truth was after his mate rejected him, he was thrown for a loop. He didn't know what to think of others. His mate was not after his power or position. She was happy to give it all up for the man she wanted. He could only imagine how freeing it was. He was always pushing everyone away. Then he met this girl who immediately chastised him on behalf of a stranger. She also was not interested in his position. He thought then maybe if he got to know her and understand her, he could understand the mate who rejected him. And he did. He had actually learned a lot from Rhea. He felt like he was in a better place because of her.

"Rhea, thank you. Thank you for befriending me. Your friendship is more important to me then you know. What I am trying to say is, good luck and be careful. Go do what you need to do and bring Leviathan back." Dex looked up at the ceiling. "Don't go getting hurt or anything because I can't imagine a world without you in it."

Rhea felt the mist in her eyes as she smiled at Dex. "Don't worry. I'll be back and I'll be bringing Lee back with me. We will have a lifetime to enjoy our friendship. Besides I still need to hook you up with a werewolf, right?" Rhea giggled as Dex chuckled at her last remark. She stood up and gave him a hug.

"Take good care of Titus for me." Dex patted Rhea's head and backed away from her.

"Don't worry. I'll bring him back safe too."

"And if something happens and you need our help send your pony back here to fetch us. I will send an army down to help." Dex walked with her to the door and opened it.

Titus was just about to open the door at the same time. He looked at Dex at first a bit shocked but then smiled. "Thanks for watching over her last night." Titus didn't suspect foul play for even a moment. He knew how much Rhea was in love with Lee and how trustworthy Dex was. It was nice to have people you trusted unconditionally in your life.

Dex yawned and rubbed the back of his neck. "I wouldn't be able to sleep anyways because I would be worrying about her. So just make sure your deity knows it was all innocent, so he doesn't kill me for staying in his room while he was away." Dex grinned as Titus chuckled.

"Go get some sleep Dex. Take care of things here for me." Titus looked at him with an intense gaze. He was talking about more than his kingdom and Dex immediately understood him.

"Don't worry. I have years and years of practice watching over her. Everything will be fine here."

Rhea popped out of the room having changed her clothes and had a backpack packed. She looked over at Kelsie and Cody in the kitchen as they were finishing packing supplies. "I guess it is time to go and find the Merrow Queen."

"We will slip out through the back. So that no one will notice us leaving." Titus reached out and patted Dex's shoulder. "We will be back soon."

"Be safe. All of you." Dex looked at Rhea one last time before he slowly left and went down the stairs.

"Cody, you guys ready?" Rhea asked as the two walked over to them.

"Ready. Let's go catch a fish." Cody grinned and Kelsie patted his back with a sympathetic smile.

"Cody bear that was really lame. I love you but that was lame." Kelsie frowned as Titus snickered quietly with Rhea.

"Come on. I'll lead the way." Titus said as he walked over to the stairs.

They ended up exiting through the old, abandoned part of the castle where Reese had led her when Titus first found out Lila was his mate. Surprisingly, they easily went unnoticed and before long they were descending off the mountain away from the dragon territory. They all had the cloaks on them that Grandpa Sage had given them and hoped they would pass through undetected by the demons.

Titus pushed a path through the thick brush and held onto Rhea as he guided her along. The thick bushes were still damp with morning dew and the hillside was a bit slick. He was going to help Rhea to make sure she didn't slip and fall.

Rhea's mind was racing as she mindlessly let Titus escort her through the brush down the mountainside. She could not believe she was finally going to find the Ocean's Tear. She had to succeed. Failure was not an option. She reached up and touched her necklace. She made sure to wear the living gem necklace. She wasn't sure why she felt like she had to have it, but she just did. Maybe it was because it helped her feel connected to Lee.

Her chest hurt as she thought of Lee. He was alone and trapped in who knows what conditions. Her sweet loving Lee. She was sure he was worried right now. She had to succeed. Not just for herself but for him. She couldn't allow him to remain sealed away. She squeezed onto Titus' hand and bit her bottom lip. If she failed at getting the Ocean's Tear, she would set out to go against the deities. She did not care what that meant for her. She would get Lee back one way or another. If the moon goddess was on her side, then she would hopefully join her in her attempts to rescue Lee.

"Rhea. Where are we headed once we get off this mountain?" Titus asked, noticing the tension in her hand. He was here for her. And he would help her however he could. They had powers together and some were still undiscovered. Them being the Gemini twins had to mean something. It had to give them the power to succeed here.

"We will head further south. Where the river meets the ocean. Along the shoreline there is a cave. That is where we are heading."

"It's a good thing we have a water horse with us then, right?" Titus winked back at Kelsie and Cody as he tried to continue to lighten the mood.

"Actually, it is a very good thing we have Kelsie because we are going to need her." Rhea looked back to Kelsie and smiled. "We will have to dive down into the ocean in order to reach the area where the merrow queen resides. There is a magic barrier deep down where once we reach it we will be able to breath. The problem is reaching it. Without Kelsie's speed we wouldn't be able to make it there without drowning." Rhea chuckled nervously and Titus' eyes grew wide.

"So, you are saying we have to hold our breath and hope Kelsie gets us there before we drown?" Titus looked back at Kelsie. "I hope you don't harbor any hard feelings for me."

"Kels Kels will be able to get us there easily before we run out of air. Right Kels?" Rhea looked back confidently at her friend.

"Yep, you'll barely have to hold your breath." Kelsie leaned into Cody and smiled. "Don't worry Cody, I'll protect you."

Cody chuckled and wrapped his arm around her. "Will we make it there today?"

"Tomorrow. We are going to have to find a good spot to camp. I mean, I guess if we ran in our animal forms, we would make today but that would draw too much attention to ourselves." Rhea had thought about running in their animal forms, but they needed to get there without being discovered.

By the time they reached the bottom of the mountain the sun had peaked its head over the horizon. The birds were singing happily and bounced around in the trees as they greeted each other. The soft sounds of twigs snapping, and leaves brushing was the only other sound heard. Besides their quieted voices as they chatted amongst themselves.

"Man, I haven't walked this far in... actually I haven't ever hiked this far before. Levi owes me big time. I am going to have a big wish list for my birthday this year and he better deliver." Titus chuckled, shaking his head.

"Aww it'll be good for your tender footed royal b**t to put some miles on those feet." Rhea bumped her shoulder into Titus playfully.

Titus swung his arm around Rhea. "I know you are trying to put on a brave face and not think about it, but I want you to know everything is going to be fine. I refuse to believe that everything was meant to be just for you to lose him. You are going to get him back." Titus side eyed her and watched a soft smile reach her lips.

"Thank you, Titus. I think so too. I mean, it is hard. It is hard knowing that I can't get to him right now, but I think I was always meant to get the Ocean's Tear. I think this was the plan for me from the beginning."

"I think so too." Cody chimed in from behind them. "It makes the most sense. Levi doesn't want to live for an eternity without his mate. You were always supposed to link your lives together. I am sure of it."

"I was wondering. When you two have kids do I get to be Uncle Titus?" Titus looked back to Kelsie and Cody and watched their faces heat in embarrassment. "And are we thinking you'll start a family sometime soon? What do you think they will be? A bear or a kelpie? Or will they have the ability to shift into either? Or what if they are a werebear but can breathe underwater? Taking attributes from both of you guys."

Rhea giggled and grinned back at Cody and Kelsie. "Any idea when I will be an aunt?"

"Let's just concentrate on one task at a time. For now, it is getting the Ocean's Tear. We can talk about kids another time." Cody winked at Kelsie and tugged her side gently.

"Guess you aren't much of a multitasker huh?" Titus grinned with a shrug.

Rhea was glad to have Titus with them on this trip. He found a way to help keep her mind busy and thinking of other things. And always found a way to bring laughter into the trip. She did not originally plan on bringing Titus along, but she was incredibly thankful to have him around. She smiled up at Titus and then glanced back to her two guardians. She was incredibly lucky to have them in her life.

She took in a deep breath of air through her nose and glanced upwards to the sun streaming through the canopy of trees. She couldn't wait until she could feel Lee's arms wrapped around her again. To be able to breath in his intoxicating scent. It has only been a day, but it has already felt like eternity. There is no way she would be able to live in this life without him. With every step they took she looked at it as one step closer to getting her Lee back. I miss you, Lee.